So, did you start a piggy bank??? Back at the beginning of the month I asked you to start collecting your spare change and setting it aside. I didn’t tell you why, but asked that you just trust me. Easy enough, right?

So did you save? I did! Aside from continually emptying my coin purse for the homeless fellow who hangs out near my hospital (I go twice a week these days), I meticulously collected each and every coin from both me and Damian, each night. And I managed to secure over $35! That’s pretty good for one month, no? If I could keep it up, that would be over $420 each year!!!

So what’s this all about? What to do with the scrilla we’ve scrimped?

Well, have you ever thought to yourself, “I would really love to volunteer for that charity, but I just never have enough time!” Or maybe, “I meant to go to that rally but I had to work that day.” Or something else along those lines . . . we all wish we could be doing more. I know I certainly do. But we push our best intentions aside as we resign to live with that prick of guilt that tickles us every once in a while.

Well no more! Now you can do something. In fact, you already did: you raised money for charity! That’s right, this month we all raised money for our favorite charity. All that’s left is to donate it. Voilà! You made a difference!

Consider it passive activism. Each month you keep on saving your change. Then monthly, or biannually – or whatever works for you – you cash it in and give it to your favorite cause.

All of us, together. Hundreds of dollars apiece. Thousands and thousands of dollars each year. Now THAT, my friends, is a good chunk of change!

I’m making my first donation to an animal sanctuary (haha, surprise surprise, right?) So what about you?

Guys! Spring is almost here! In Portland I dare say it’s even come early, bringing the daffodils springing from every sidewalk crack and kissing the tree tops in blush pink buds. It’s intoxicating!

And it also means we’re coming up quick on planting season. Even if you’re not seeing it out your own front window, I assure you it’s coming . . . and soon!

Last year I offered a green alternative to plastic seed pots, with a recycled newspaper version. This year I present a new twist on the same concept – this time using your spent toilet paper rolls!

And once again, it’s just so easy. Like so:

Begin with your TP roll. You’ll need one per plant.

Cut! You’ll want a series of cuts around one edge, maybe 1.5 inches apiece. I did 5-6 cuts per roll.

It’ll look like this.

Fold down the tabs to make a nice flat bottom. No need to fasten or anything fancy – it should stay put on it’s own. Fill with potting soil and proceed with starting your seeds as normal.







When you’re ready to transplant, just unfold the bottom tabs and then cut the cardboard away. So start collecting those TP rolls! (and don’t forget to recycle or compost them once you’re done)

Don’t you love how the green DIY method is also always the most efficient, most practical method? I love that!!

That’s right, another giveaway! It must be all that V-day love that swirls around in February. And I’m especially excited about this one, because the sponsor is a super small business and a Bonzai reader to boot!

Cayce runs the adorable Etsy shop Sustainable Homestead, which offers handmade and eco-friendly re-usable alternatives to common trashable packaging. Check out her super cute lunchbox sandwich baggies, different sizes of produce and bulk bags, tons of patterns of lunchbox napkins and hankies, and cloth re-usable gift wrapping. All of the items are custom made by Cayce, and many of them are also upcycled for maximum green-ness!

Sustainable Homestead is offering a little sampler to one of my readers, including those two lovely lunchbox napkins pictured above, as well as an awesome ripstop nylon re-usable sandwich baggie (below). I’ve got these babies in my hands right now and I can assure you, they are super fun, super practical, and totally fabulous. I’ll have a hard time letting go of them!





All you have to do to enter is go visit Sustainable Homestead, check them out, and then come back here and leave a comment. That’s it. So good luck! (and go snap up something wonderful from Sustainable Homestead!!!)

“Knock knock!”

It’s getting pretty close to Go-Time, guys! I am now 37 weeks and 5 days pregnant, which means I’m 5 days into officially, technically ‘term’. Most women gestate for 40 weeks but my midwives expect an earlier arrival for me. Like, ANY DAY NOW!

I do have a posting schedule all set for the next few weeks . . . but it’s probably more ambitious than it is realistic. I’ll do my best to let you know as soon as I go into labor, and also to keep you updated in the days afterwards. I know you’ll want pictures! But of course, the truth is I’ve never done this before and it’s impossible to know how available I’ll actually be. So please just bear with me, my dears.

In the case that I do just disappear one day, please think happy labor thoughts for me. And maybe send some extra love towards my son – he’ll be making his grand entrance into this world and I can only imagine that’s a pretty intense experience.

I just can’t wait to meet him!!!

Gettin’ silly at the midwife’s office.

Oi oi! Hello there, and hello weekend!! It’s time again for comments, critiques, thoughts, support, and suggestions.

What have you been pondering this week? Have you made any recent life changes? Any new green resolutions? Have you been saving your change??? (I’m trying really hard but I keep emptying my purse for the homeless people who stand at the traffic light near my hospital, which I’m visiting bi-weekly. Ah well, I suppose they need it . . . ) So what’s on your mind?!

As usual, the Feedback Forum will remain here at the top of the page all weekend, so if you’ve got an idea or a question or you just want to introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’, you can stop back by any time. This is your community, so get involved and have your say!

And just a note – I’ve written before about the upcoming Swap-O-Rama Chicago, and since I think it’s such a cool event, I wanted to let you all know that they are currently accepting submissions from Midwest fashion designers, for the show that will be featured at the event. So all you aspiring designers in the area, check out the info page here.

Have an wonderful weekend all you dears!!